1st Australian Fashion Film Awards (AFFA) 2015
, about which Jo Bayley recently reported, took place on Wednesday 20th May 2015 in the Sky Lobby of Westfield at Sydney.
A finalist in the 2014 Telstra Business Awards, Anastasia Fai, the founder of AFFA, has brought her passion and vision for uniting both fashion and film to fruition.
She received great support from both the fashion and film industries as well as corporate sponsors.
Baz Lurhmann, Chanel and Country Road were all big winners helping to inspire the industry into the future.
Anastasia noted the “… AFFA will be celebrating Aussie talent for many years to come” she said and, ‘…by being offered multifaceted aspects of human interaction within this unique cinematic world, we are invited to redefine what fashion means’.
Judges were Graeme Mason – CEO, Screen Australia, Nicole Warne – Celebrity Fashion Blogger of Gary Pepper Girl, Marion Hume – International Fashion Journalist, Prof Ian Bofinger – Executive Dean, Australian Institute of Music and Emma van Haandel – Founder, EVH PR
Marion Hume who couldn’t be at the ceremony observed “As we all live so much of our lives online, sharing favourite fashion content in the form of attention-grabbing moving image is now our normal. A fashion film celebrates and promotes fashion in an attention-grabbing way.”
Chanel the fashion house came out a big winner with the very seductive short film advertisement for the eternal Chanel No 5, billed as the world’s most desirable fragrance, which it commissioned.
Baz Luhrmann who crafted another film for Chanel starring Nicole Kidman ten years ago, has designed this new commercial as a mini-romance, starring world supermodel Gisele Bündchen and actor Michiel Huisman who wins hearts for his role in Game of Thrones. It is meant to be characterized in reality.
It is all about the 21st-century woman, one who knows when to draw the line on her career because her marriage is in trouble and chooses love above all.
“The One That I Want’ was a three time winner, taking home the Best Director award for Baz Lurhmann, with Catherine Martin winning Best Fashion Styling and Lo-Fang Best Sound Design or Music.
Country Road featured the renowned Australian international model Gemma Ward in their ‘Summer Wonder, directed by Jessie Oldfield and Adam Murfet.
Filmed on the northern beaches of Sydney, it ‘…paid homage to the quintessential summer holiday of sun, sand and sea, where traditions are built and memories are made’.
The Woolmark Company became another big winner for its ‘Lost and Found’ which won Best Visual Effects and Best Concept.
The Best Independent Fashion Film was ‘Wild West’ – Justin Griffiths featuring international model Simone Kerr and hot new talent Bridget Flint, both ballet dancers.
The Best International Fashion Film ‘We Are All Mad Here’ – Hogan Rebel featured Nick Fouquet
The People’s Choice was ‘Phoenix Rising’, Russh Magazine which also won Best Hair for Renya Xydis and Best Makeup Tamah Krinsky.
Carolyn McDowall, The Culture Concept Circle, 2015
